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School links between the UK and the developing world can leave children with “racist” views of other cultures, research has found.
British pupils believe that their peers there are covered in flies and all wear straw skirts as lessons focus too much on poverty, the study said.
Academics warned that badly trained teachers in subjects such as geography were fuelling “neocolonialist” views.
Growing numbers of state schools have formed partnerships around the world under government schemes to promote global education.
The British Council aims to establish 4,600 links by 2012.
Researchers asked English children about their Gambian peers.
The pupils said: “They don't wear much clothes, they wear straw. The boys wear skirts too.”
Other responses, reported in The Times Educational Supplement, included: “Gross things like flies go in their mouths. Because their mouths are brown and the flies think their mouths are made of mud.”
Dr Fran Martin, from Exeter University, who led the study, said: “There needs to be a different way of thinking to avoid partnerships having these neocolonialist or racist undertones.”
Reader views (9)
I totally disagree with the article and its findings. Firstly, these were based on 2005 research by only concentrating one link which doesn't represent all the valuable work that school have done with their partners around the world through the British Council. I have seen the impact of having links with Europe, Asia and Africa to widen and challenge pupils' and parents' stereotypical views about other cultures. If anyone would like to see the link between raising attaintment and established global dimension then it would be easy to see that OUTSTANDING schools have these links to enrich the learning experiences. I suggest that Tim Ross should visit schools and talk to pupils,teachers and parents to find out how schools are working together. We as educators believe the power of having a global dimension and opportunities provided to become a more tolerant society through the help of British Council and also ask current government's continuing support to further develop links with the wider world. It is really dissappointing for Evening Standard to publish an article based on a very poorly researched topic with not much credibility.
- Iclal Lawrence, London, England, 08/03/2010 22:12
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I wonder how much Dr Fran Martin, from Exeter University, who led the study, along with his team, were paid for this research. How long ago was it done, how large was the sample used and what age were the pupils that were questioned? None of this important information is included in this poorly written news article.
The primary school where I teach, has links to 20 countries world wide, from Nepal, Iran, Nigeria & Kenya, to many of the new European countries, we have received the British Council's International School Award twice.
These live links enable pupils to work to-gether on educational projects and to discover the similarities as well as the differences between countries, thus enriching the understanding of our future generations towards the Global World in which we all live.
Linking schools together is not charity work, as is made very clear throughout all of the work done by the British Council. It is about both sides sharing ideas and working collaboratively to foster a better understanding of each other, to realize their responsibilities as Global Citizens and to celebrate every country's individual, cultural diversity. As Great Britain is hosting the 2012 Olympics surely it is even more important for our pupils to have a global understanding?
- Colette, Dover England, 08/03/2010 21:33
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Perhaps the CHILDREN do not want to be linked with schools in other countries !! Perhaps it is the teachers/education authorities/politicians who want this to be enforced on the schools.
- Nick Holland, glasgow, 08/03/2010 11:12
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Clearly 13 years of NuLab uber PC conditioning / education policy has failed and is now backfiring beautifully.
- Jimbob, Kensington, 08/03/2010 10:40
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I am so sick of hearing this. Change the record will you?
- Jules_London, london, 05/03/2010 15:21
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Could it not also be that they come from facist a family.
- Gerry, Chatham KENT, 05/03/2010 15:10
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Isn't this the perfect opportunity to explain to children why racism is a bad thing and does not reflect the reality of life in other countries? Anyway, thre's always someone who has to complain and grumble.
- Sue R, London, 05/03/2010 15:00
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Why blame the schools, haven't these people seen all the films being shown for Comic Relief, Sport Relief et al?
In order to make a valid judgement we would need to know what the questions were specifically since if you asked 'What is different about the clothes worn by children in Gambia to your own clothes?' one would receive the answer quoted.
- Jim, London, 05/03/2010 14:53
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More trendy left wing ****.
How about concentrating on 1 + 1 = 2?
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 05/03/2010 14:32
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